An "entirely original" contribution (Was: copyright expiration...)

Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
>
> If obtaining permissions is too much work, try doing something
> that is entirely original.

I would appreciate if if Mr. Henderson would identify some works which meet this standard, i.e. of being "entirely original." Myself, I have never encountered anything of the sort. And I am certainly unable to produce such works myself. Look! I even quoted Mr. Henderson in order to phrase my simple request!

I am excited at the prospect of learning from exemplary works supplied by Mr. Henderson how I, myself, might construct my own "entirely original" works. But, hmmmmmn... if I learn something from these examples, and put it to use in my own work... well...

On second thought, Mr. Henderson, please make sure that you DON'T identify those "entirely original" works. That way, I will make sure that I don't come into contact with them, so as to make sure that I am never contaminated by any influence which might prevent me from arriving at my own "entirely original" voice. Perhaps, if I do a good job of purging my memory of... well... everything, I will be able to express my influence-free "entirely original" thoughts in an "entirely original" language. I think I read something in a Borges story about this... oops! Even my thought of an "entirely original" language is not "entirely original." What now?

This is clearly a difficult dilemma. But I'm sure that once Mr. Henderson explains how to produce "entirely original" works, that we will all be sure to give him proper credit for this idea in our own works.

Cheers!

John Logie
Penn State University
<antrobus[_at_]ripco.com> Received on Thu Sep 10 1998 - 14:44:52 GMT